Finally got a bus!

[Srad600]

Good evening. Posted an intro a while back but now that I finally have a bus I thought I'd reintroduce my self.

I've been searching for a short bus off and on for a while and been poking around the site and YouTube but def still a major newb with all things bus and diesel related. I ended up getting a retired paratransit bus not a school bus but in some ways I'm happier I think, some ways I wish I still went skoolie style.

I purchased a 2003 Ford E450 7.3L dually with 140k miles. Wheel chair lift, all lights, buzzers and safety features in tact. Drove it 80 miles home and about 130 miles total (back and forth to parts stores and Lowe's to start working on it) and it seems pretty solid. I'll get some pics up asap, and hopefully start a build thread. I won't be going full on conversion or "build out". It will be a toy hauler for my motorcycles. A garage on wheels if you will, a track day and road trip vehicle. It won't be made beautiful like a camper inside but it will be functional.

Looking forward to hanging around. I kind of miss the days when motorcycle forums were jumping.

[Srad600]

So far the "build" and prep for my first trip with the bus has been going great and been real fun. Was considering a build thread but there doesn't seem to be much interest in a motobus that's not getting a full living quarters conversion?

Loving the site and the info so far. Thanks for all the knowledge!

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by Srad600

Was considering a build thread but there doesn't seem to be much interest in a motobus that's not getting a full living quarters conversion?

I started my build thread mainly just to document everything I'm doing. Others may or may not be interested in parts of it, it's cool. Pretty much every build thread here has some interesting stuff going on.

[Truthseeker4449]

I am very envious of that bus sized car wash, I wish the ones near me had such bays.

[Native]

We are a varied group of people on this forum, so go on and make a build thread. Folks will find it interesting.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker4449

I am very envious of that bus sized car wash, I wish the ones near me had such bays.

Seriously, I'm knocking my head against a wall trying to find something like that I can take my bus to in the "greater" Philly area. Saw one down in Flagler Beach, FL last week, which of course does me no good.

[Srad600]

Oops. Mispost. Delete me please?

[Srad600]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Seriously, I'm knocking my head against a wall trying to find something like that I can take my bus to in the "greater" Philly area. Saw one down in Flagler Beach, FL last week, which of course does me no good.

That car wash I'm at in that picture is only about 35 mins from the Ben, Walt and Tacony bridges. We have a couple like it out here.

Bus wash party? Lol.

*Sorry for the double post. Forgot to quote and it wouldn't let me delete the original.

[Truthseeker4449]

Maybe we should lol. If only wouldn't take such a heavy toll on my sanity trying to go back to New Jersey. Spent a week in Secaucus and it scared me even though I wasn't driving. I thought my area was bad.

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Seriously, I'm knocking my head against a wall trying to find something like that I can take my bus to in the "greater" Philly area. Saw one down in Flagler Beach, FL last week, which of course does me no good.

This is the best I've found so far... Ended up wedging the clearance bar against the roof. That was some very tense minutes. Resorted to just parking beside the bays. Spent over $100 somehow doing it too. A low roof bus might fit tho.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by Srad600

That car wash I'm at in that picture is only about 35 mins from the Ben, Walt and Tacony bridges. We have a couple like it out here.

Could you post or PM me the addresses for these places? I would be most obliged.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker4449

Maybe we should lol. If only wouldn't take such a heavy toll on my sanity trying to go back to New Jersey. Spent a week in Secaucus and it scared me even though I wasn't driving. I thought my area was bad.

This is the best I've found so far... Ended up wedging the clearance bar against the roof. That was some very tense minutes. Resorted to just parking beside the bays. Spent over $100 somehow doing it too. A low roof bus might fit tho.

Ha ha, I found a local car wash with a 10'4" clearance and my bus is about 10'3" to the top of the emergency exit hatches. I drove over to try it out but didn't have the courage to actually attempt it.

[EastCoastCB]

I've had good results just using my water hose and a brush on a long telescopic pole.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I've had good results just using my water hose and a brush on a long telescopic pole.

I have a pressure washer I could borrow, and I'm mainly trying to wash my underside, but my problem is I can't do this at my house (no proper drainage and armed neighbors) and my parking spot has no running water (also no proper drainage but that's less of a problem).

[EastCoastCB]

I see. I've finally got my bus at home and man am I getting **** done!

[Native]

It sure makes a difference when you can walk right out to the bus and get working.

[Srad600]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Could you post or PM me the addresses for these places? I would be most obliged.

The one I took that picture at which would be closest to Philly is the "on the go car wash" in mt Holly on rt 38.

On the Go Car Wash
1629 NJ-38, Mt Holly, NJ 08060
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ra1tdzkejsWDxdWW6

Theres a lot of room at that bay but over all not a lot of room in the lot for turning around ETC esp on a nice day. Your in a full size bus right? How far from the bridges are you? There was a similar car wash on Rt 130 im delran but I'm not sure it's still open. Ill double check. That should be closer to you and the lot was bigger.

[Srad600]

Originally Posted by Native

It sure makes a difference when you can walk right out to the bus and get working.

It certainly does. I'm glad I decided to park my bus at home. I thought I'd keep it at a friend's house. I can knock out a little bit each day despite being busy. I'll try to do a build thread tomorrow.

I'm also still trying to track down a good vin decoder or way of making sure I actually know what options/specs the bus has (trans, gearing etc) so most screen time has been research.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Srad600

It certainly does. I'm glad I decided to park my bus at home. I thought I'd keep it at a friend's house. I can knock out a little bit each day despite being busy. I'll try to do a build thread tomorrow.

I'm also still trying to track down a good vin decoder or way of making sure I actually know what options/specs the bus has (trans, gearing etc) so most screen time has been research.

Call a dealer with the VIN number, they will provide more info than you can probably find elsewhere.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by Srad600

The one I took that picture at which would be closest to Philly is the "on the go car wash" in mt Holly on rt 38.

On the Go Car Wash
1629 NJ-38, Mt Holly, NJ 08060
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ra1tdzkejsWDxdWW6

Theres a lot of room at that bay but over all not a lot of room in the lot for turning around ETC esp on a nice day. Your in a full size bus right? How far from the bridges are you? There was a similar car wash on Rt 130 im delran but I'm not sure it's still open. Ill double check. That should be closer to you and the lot was bigger.

Hmm, that's about 50 miles for me (my bus is in Delco). I keep forgetting Jersey is basically everything from the southwest to the northeast of Philly and not just a tiny plot of land across the river from the airport. I need to get my intermittent dashboard problem fixed (or get a bluefire gadget) before I'm willing to risk going that far.

[musigenesis]

I assume you know about Joseph Fazzio, Inc. in Glassboro, right?